This article will cover how to protect yourself in the event of a car accident in Florida, how to handle it most efficiently and how the state's internal quirks are different from the rest of the country.

Deal with the immediate issues

The most important thing in any car accident is to make sure you're physically sound.

Question one: Are you hurt?
Question two: Are your passengers hurt?
Question three: Is the car on fire?

Once you've dealt with those imperative questions, you can move on to the nitty-gritty details.

Call the police: Unless there was absolutely no damage (and even if you can’t see it, sometimes there is), call the authorities. Their account will become the official record, and your insurance company will need that. Move your cars to the side of the road to maintain the flow of traffic; if they are too damaged to be moved, turn on the hazard lights and wait until police arrive.

Exchange information: Don’t say more than your name and your insurance information to the other party, because anything you say can be used against you later. Make sure to get his or her name, contact information, insurance information, license plate, car make and model, and driver’s license number.

Get witness information: This is absolutely crucial, because witnesses often leave the state and are impossible to track down. Write down their names and contact information for later.

Photograph the scene and injuries: Your attorney will thank you. Injuries heal faster than you think, and the cops might not take as many photos as you need. Use your phone and take pictures of the cars, license plates, bruises, cuts and whatever else is relevant.

Receive medical attention: Make sure to follow up with your doctor and have your injuries documented. This is very important, even if you don't think you're hurt. It might take a few days for your injuries to manifest, and by then your insurance company won't connect it to the accident because of the gap in between.

So how does Florida's car insurance system work?

Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car insurance. This means that in the event of a car accident, each car turns to its own insurer to cover any medical bills instead of suing the other driver. At-fault states, on the other hand, would sue to cover medical costs related to the accident.

This means that no matter who is hurt – the person driving, the passenger, someone walking on the sidewalk who is sideswiped by an SUV – they all turn to their own car insurance policies first.

If someone is uninsured, he or she turns to the policy of the closest insured relative. See what to do if it’s a hit and run.

Pursue a lawsuit if someone else negligently caused the accident and if the injuries exceed a certain threshold

No-fault systems are intended to destress the courts. Insurance companies can handle small claims like a broken nose or arm, and by streamlining these claims instead of clogging up the legal system, the intention is to get claims paid out faster. For catastrophic or permanent injuries, however, drivers can still sue for damages.

Despite the statistics, many drivers are chancing it by driving with very little insurance – or no insurance at all. This is the case even though Florida requires PIP insurance and PDL insurance (property damage liability insurance), which applies if you cause damage to property.

In these instances, it helps to have underinsurance or uninsurance policies, which cover you in the event when you're hit by someone who isn't driving with insurance. Florida is notorious for having drivers hit the road without policies, even though it's illegal. As of 2012, 23.8% of Florida drivers were uninsured. That is more than one out of every five drivers. Pretty risky, don't you think?

Underinsurance policies cover the medical bills that wouldn't be covered by PIP or the other driver's insurance. Let's say you were hit and suffered a catastrophic injury that allowed you to step outside Florida's no-fault system and sue the other driver. They would have no money for you to claim. An uninsurance policy lets you claim damages against your own insurance company instead so that you won't suffer needlessly.

Comparative negligence/fault system in Florida

It's important to note that “fault” and “negligence” are used interchangeably. Just know that negligence is when someone is legally liable for causing harm to another person. The plaintiff (the person who was harmed) must prove four elements:

Duty: The plaintiff has to illustrate that the defendant owed him or her a duty of care;

Breach: The defendant breached that duty by acting or not acting a certain way;

Causation: The defendant's action or inaction caused the plaintiff's injury;

Damages: The plaintiff was actually harmed by the defendant's action or inaction.

This is the basis of every personal injury claim. In Florida, we follow the “pure comparative negligence” system, which apportions damages between parties based on the percentage of fault. So, a victim can recover damages even if he is 99% at fault for an accident.

What if I need to go to trial in Florida?

The trial process is fairly straightforward. Plaintiffs have four years to file a motor vehicle claim, which is a generous statute of limitations. This gives them a lot of time to heal, gather information related to the accident and find an attorney they like.

Engage an attorney: Interview a few different ones before you lock one down. Make sure to discuss fee arrangements and the entire process, because every lawyer is different.

Begin the initial paperwork: The attorney will draft the demand letter and serve it on the defendant, which will let him or her know that you intend to file a claim.

The defendant will answer the demand, which starts the discovery process and settlement negotiations. This can take months or even years because you will be digging up facts, taking depositions, interviewing witnesses, and waiting for you to achieve maximum medical improvement – or the point at which you will no longer heal.

If you cannot reach a settlement, you will go to trial. Motions and arguments will be made in front of a judge, or the judge might compel you to try alternative dispute resolution such as mediation or arbitration.

The jury will either award the plaintiff or deny compensation, which might result in an appeal.

Best motor vehicle and personal injury resources in Florida

Once you've been in an accident, it helps to know that there are other people out there like you who have been through the same thing. Car accidents are scary. They can be life-changing events, and sometimes those who haven't been through them don't understand just how immense of an experience they are. Here are some resources we've collected for you regarding motor vehicle safety, driving education, mental health, physical health and wellness in general.

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: the FLHSMV has all the data, statistics and information regarding driving safety, “arriving alive,” consumer education, handbooks, manuals, and related links to help you find more resources.

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: The IIHS has information ranging from rollover crashes to older drivers to red light running. They also have consumer safety videos, such as “Understanding Car Crashes: It's Basic Physics,” and Young Drivers: The High Risk Years.”

B4UDrink Educator: This is a website called the Virtual Bar. Now you can see how different drinks affect your blood alcohol content – without the hangover! This app simulates how various drinks would theoretically change your BAC. It's not meant to be scientifically accurate, but it can get pretty close.

Ride Smart Florida: Ride Smart Florida was created by the Florida Department of Transportation and is the outreach arm of the Florida Motorcycle Safety Coalition. We can't forget about motorcycles, because they are a large number of vehicles on the road and many people use them. The aim of Ride Smart Florida is to reduce fatalities and serious injuries to motorcycle riders and passengers. The website offers education, training, data, statistics and support to local communities.

Florida Rider Training Program: You can't enjoy those scenic motorcycle roads until you know how to ride a bike. This website signs you up for a motorcycle training course and allows you to locate a facility near you so that you can enhance your safety skills.

Coping with Injury: This is MADD's PDF pamphlet that offers information for recovering physically and mentally from an accident.

Coping with Unexpected Events: The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance knows that depression is common after a traumatic accident, and that you shouldn't suffer alone. The DBSA provides ways to help yourself and others cope with depression after an accident.

Getting Help for PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder is common after an accident, even a slight one. The PTSD Alliance offers hotlines and other ways to receive help if you are experience PTSD.

Trauma Survivors Network: This is a platform for those who have survived trauma to share their stories and offer support.

Accidental Impacts – Coping: This is for when you have caused the accident, which is never easy to deal with. Accidental Impacts offers help and support for those who have caused impacts and shares stories of those who have been in the same unfortunate situation.

Moving Beyond Guilt: While the Phoenix Society is for burn victims, this offers valuable advice for those suffering from survivor's guilt and offers help for people needing to move beyond their own pain.

EmpowHER: This also deals with survivor's guilt and gives advice for clarity and peace of mind.

We hope these resources give you some peace of mind and let you sleep a little more comfortably. In the meantime, if you need to speak with an attorney, try the Enjuris Florida law firm partner!

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